Black Philanthropy Initiative
Launched in 2007, the Black Philanthropy Initiative (BPI) serves as a model for rethinking philanthropy in Forsyth County’s black community. Through engagement and encouragement, BPI educates people to utilize their philanthropic strengths of time, talent, and treasure to impact meaningful change and address identified needs in the black community.
Leadership
The Black Philanthropy Initiative is led by a group of community volunteers who acknowledge the traditions of sharing in the black community and seek to expand charitable giving through education and impact.
advisory committee
- Melvin Scales
Chair - Corlis Sellers-Drummond
1st Vice Chair
- Leroy Davis
2nd Vice Chair | Treasurer | Chair, Grants Committee - Takeisha Redd
Secretary | Chair, Governance
- Mae Rodney
Chair, Resource Development - Robin Barksdale Ervin
- Shawan Gabriel
- Nicole Gentles
- Tamisha Keith
- Nicole Little
- Roshanda McCrimmon
- Brittany Norton
- George Redd
- Leslie Sadler
- Michael Silver
- Tiffany Waddell Tate
- Carrie M. Woods
Grants
The Black Philanthropy Initiative will offer two types of grants in 2020.
Impact Grants
BPI’s Impact Grants are investments in local programs, projects, and initiatives that support issues impacting the black community in Forsyth County. In particular, this program is looking to invest in black-led organizations/groups with annual budgets of less than $150,000, recognizing that there are local groups/organizations doing impactful work that are newer and/or have smaller budgets than their counterparts. While Impact Grants are typically investments of up to $1,000, grants up to $5,000 were offered during the August 2020 grant round.
The Impact Grant round has passed and BPI is planning another round in 2021.
FEBRUARY 2020 GRANT RECIPIENTS
- Building Resources in Disadvantaged Groups Through Economic & Empowerment (BRIDGE) – $1,000 to collaborate with Winston-Salem State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship to promote financial literacy workshops to students and entrepreneurs.
- Hoops4L.Y.F.E – $1,000 to purchase materials for STEAM activities offered at afterschool and summer enrichment camps.
- Kimberly Park Tennis Association – $1,000 to provide financial assistance for tennis tournament fees for youth participants.
AUGUST 2020 GRANT RECIPIENTS
- Hope to Thrive – $5,000 to provide food and services to families of color that promote health and well-being
- Journee Bees Village – $5,000 to provide virtual financial education, social and emotional support, and career planning to young men
- Love Community Development Corporation – $5,000 to support senior volunteers offering virtual tutoring in reading for students in grades K-3
- The Wells Center Inc. – $1,800 to support a post-release program for formerly incarcerated women
- Winston-Salem African American Archive – $5,000 for educational presentations and tours featuring the history of the local African American community
- Masjid Al-Muminun – $5,000 for food basket distribution for families living in poverty and scholarships for students pursuing higher education
Equity in Education Grants
BPI’s traditional grantmaking round has a primary focus of Advancing Racial Equity in Education. In April 2020, BPI postponed its spring grant cycle, instead making direct investments to local schools to address equity issues around remote student learning, recognizing that technology and Internet access have become a heightened equity issue with the closing of schools.
BPI is planning another Equity in Education grant cycle for Fall 2020.
APRIL 2020 Grant Recipients
- Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools – $10,000 to provide resources for students to fully engage in remote learning
- Quality Education Academy – $5,000 to provide resources for students to fully engage in remote learning
- Carter G. Woodson School – $5,000 to provide resources for students to fully engage in remote learning
